Archive of Our Own

As my senses slowly returned to me, I could feel soft fingers combing through my hair in a slow rhythmic pattern. My head rested on a soft yet firm pillow. I let the relaxing sensation enveloped me as my hazy mind relaxed further.

My head feels so groggy and my body feels numb. Did something happen?

Does it matter?

Of course it matters!

Why? The previous trail has been cleared and all my family are safe. I’m so tired, can’t I just rest?

I tried to force my eyes open, but everything feels so heavy. Maybe a short nap wouldn’t hurt, after all

I am safe here.

All the loud and distracting thoughts are slowly disappearing, it was comforting, I've never felt so relaxed before. I snuggled deeper into the pillow,

'I want to stay here forever.'

The fingers running through my hair paused for a moment, the hands trembling slightly.

'Why did you stop?'

"Captain…?"

The moment I thoughtlessly mumbled out that word, the warm atmosphere froze over, it felt like being dragged out from a warm bed and thrown into the depths of freezing cold water. The sudden chill that wrecked through my body jolted me wide awake. I recoiled from that warm embrace.

But it was so warm, I want to stay there longer. I should lay back down.

I scampered away as far as I could with my uncoordinated limbs, my head a muddle mess. I tried to force my blurry eyes into focus when a system message blocked my view.

‘What-’

BOOM! CRASH!

A deafening sound echoed from my left, some pieces of stone scattered near me. I knew instinctively that Je Hyun-oh had arrived.

While squinting my eyes from the lingering smoke, I saw the blurry figure of Je Hyun-oh's head turn left, then right before an emoticon flashed on his goggles.

The feeling of dread that has been slowly building up inside of me intensified from observing his reaction. Who is the one opposite me? Was I lying on them just now? They must not be an immediate threat if Je Hyun-oh hasn’t taken any action yet. A bunch of questions came flooding in as the fog in my mind started to clear up.

Sensing the movement from the unknown person, I quickly focus my attention back onto them. I carefully observed their features as they were standing up, wary of any sudden movements. Dressed in a standard medical doctor uniform and short black hair framing their striking golden-red eyes. Those familiar clothes, those familiar features... is that not just me??

I can feel my jaw dropping, wait no, those golden eyes...

"Are you.... the young god?"

That's actually possible.

I remembered that as soon as the trail’s backstory cutscene started to play, I felt a powerful force tearing at me from inside as if something was trying to crawl its way out of me. It felt like a part of my heart was being forcefully taken away from me. That must have been the young god ego being torn away. Thinking about it now, I can still feel that lingering emptiness in my chest, my chest ache.

Kwak Hanmook clenched his prayer beads tightly, while Mo Haein raised her Black Moon Blade, tension filled their frame as they shifted their stance to prepare for battle. Upon seeing that, the young god snapped his fingers, a golden veil descended upon everyone, including me.

It was ‘Divine Protection’.

I can feel the tension in my shoulder draining away and my jaw unclenching. Warmth slowly spread throughout my body, it felt like being embraced in a warm hug. Was this how it felt to be given ‘Divine Protection’? No wonder Je Hyun-oh loved it so much.

“Aren't we family? Why are you guys raising your weapon at me?”

I saw the Captains unconsciously lowering their weapon while staring at the veil as if in a trance. Je Hyun-oh kept staring at the young god, his goggles pitch black.

I reached out a hand to touch the golden veil.

‘So warm...’

Ack! I shook my head, now is not the time for distractions. I hurriedly opened the system panels, since the person before me is probably the young god ego, then does that mean I can no longer access my power as a ‘god’?

Everything seems the same as usual, however nothing happens when I try to interact with it.

My fingers tremble.

‘Does that mean I won’t be able to help the Captains and Je Hyun-oh anymore? Will they, too, find me a burden..?’

My throat felt choked. I relentlessly tried to use my power, I couldn't send any messages, I couldn't cast ‘Divine Protection’, I couldn't see my family’s status.

Pleasepleaseplease anything, please work, please not like this, idontwanttobecastasidenotagainpleaseihavetobeuseful.

I can feel tears welling up in my eyes, my vision blurry.

The shock of suddenly seeing my emotions on display distracted me from my own self-deprecating thoughts. It felt weird seeing my own feelings in writing, this was why I didn’t want to intrude and check my family's status casually. But what is even weirder was this 'Han Yang'. I don't remember registering anyone with that name.

Could it be?

‘Han Yang is the young god's name?’

I stared blankly at the young god, my eyes red rimmed, which only seemed to delight him even more.

"Trainee! Get over here"

I took a step towards the Captains’ direction when I felt a heavy weight pressing down on my body. My muscles twitched as my body's movements locked up.

This was 'Restriction'.

But unlike me, the young god, no maybe I should be referring to him as Han Yang, seemed much more familiar with his power. His abilities lasted much longer than what I could cast.

Slow, rhythmic footsteps sounded behind me. I tried to glance at the young god from the corner of my eyes.

"Goyo-ya, where are you going?"

His arms wrap around my waist from behind.

Just as I was staring blankly at his arms on my waist. The missing system window finally made its appearance.

The words were all jumbled up and mixed with weird symbols like a scrambled jigsaw puzzle. It must be fighting off the power of Han Yang. At that moment a new system window overrides the previous one.

Crazy bastard.

Han Yang was much more powerful than I expected, even the system is unable to do anything against him. Although it might have been weakened due to what happened at the beginning of the trail. I felt fine now after all, even when I was certain my chest had been torn open.

However a more concerning matter was becoming increasinly clear, was this trail still the same trail that the Special Task Force was assigned to? I don't think so.

Sure enough, glitched system windows appeared, answering any doubts that I might have.